Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) is demanding answers from the University of Texas (UT) after it gave a research grant to Planned Parenthood of Illinois in the amount of nearly $50,000.
On Wednesday, Roy sent a letter to UT to inquire about the decision to grant a sub-award of $49,458 to Planned Parenthood of Illinois. In August 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gave a $2 million grant to the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work to evaluate THRIVE, a program that provides “inclusive, trauma-formed sex education to youth, designed to meet the specific needs and concerns of teens and young adults in foster care.” The Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing partnered with implementation and evaluation teams in Illinois, Kansas, and Colorado to carry out an efficacy study of the program. Roy noted that after receiving $526,145 of the $2 million, UT gave $50,000 of the funding to Planned Parenthood.
Roy called Planned Parenthood “a radical entity,” adding that “the University of Texas’ association with it violates the conscience of millions of Texans.” He wrote, “On its website, Planned Parenthood of Illinois proudly boasts of providing free abortions and ‘gender-affirming hormone therapy to transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive folks’ – including minors. Despite Planned Parenthood receiving over a third of its revenue from taxpayer funding, they provide services ‘regardless of immigration status’ and ‘travel arrangements for those seeking gender-affirming or abortion care from other states.'”
READ: Planned Parenthood of Illinois and online abortion pill biz team up to kill more preborn babies
Roy called the university’s partnership with Planned Parenthood of Illinois unacceptable.
The university was given until 5 p.m. on January 22 to respond to the letter and “confirm whether UT provided Planned Parenthood of Illinois sub-award grant funding” and how much was provided, in addition to the rationale for doing so.
Roy also inquired as to whether UT has entered into other funding agreements with Planned Parenthood or other abortion-providing organizations since January 2021, and asked if UT’s funding of Planned Parenthood is “consistent with Texas law, including Senate Bill 14, which prohibits the use of public money or public assistance to provide minors” with cross-gender treatments.
“Considering that the University of Texas is second in the nation in federal research expenditures among public higher education systems, it is essential that we understand why federal grant recipients are entering into partnerships with abortion and so-called ‘gender-affirming care’- providing organizations and under what circumstances,” said Roy.
Last week, Planned Parenthood of Illinois president and CEO Jennifer Welch stepped down after more than seven years in the role.
Tell President Trump, RFK, Jr., Elon, and Vivek:
Stop killing America’s future. Defund Planned Parenthood NOW!
